Liquid dispenser for carbonated beverages



Jan- 9, 1951 c. c. BAUERLEIN Erm. 2,537,119

LIQUID DISPENSER FOR cARBoNATED BEvERAGEs Fil-d Feb. 2, 1945 2 Sheeys-Sheet 2 5l Z9 l1 i f6 i 3, /4 il 32 Patented Jan. 9, 1951 LIQUID DISPENSER FOR CARBONATED BEVERAGES Carl C. Bauerlein, Glencoe, and George C. Michal# sen, Chicago, Ill., assignors to The Dole Valve Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application February 2, 1945, Serial No. 575,782

Claims.

Our invention relates to liquid dispensers, and to a dispensing device of the type wherein one fluid, such asa syrup, is arranged to be dispensed with a second carbonated liquid for mixture externally of the drink dispenser, and to a dispenser nozzle for use with a liquid dispenser.

In the dispensing of a plurality of liquids, such as in the production of a beverage in which carbonated water is used with a avoring syrup, itis highly desirable that the uniformity of the resulting drink be maintained with delity in order to insure the uniformity in the taste of successive drinks. 'Ihe maintenance of the proper proportions of the component liquids combined to form the drink is determinative of the resulting taste and uniformity of mixture.

It has therefore been customary in dispensing drinks of the above type to employ a liquid dispenser which includes an arrangement for dispensing a predetermined quantity of the flavoring syrup and for simultaneously dispensing the carbonated liquid. It has also been customary to mix the two liquids in the dispensing head as the mixed liquid passes into a vessel such as a glass suitable for drinking. We have found, however, that when employing liquid dispensers of this type to dispense a flavoring syrup and a carbonated liquid which are mixed in the dispensing head of the dispenser that the mixed liquids may flow unduly and that bacteria may form in the head in which the two liquids are dispensed and mixed.

It is therefore an object of our invention to provide a fluid dispenser in which foaming of the dispensed liquids is substantially prevented.

It is another object of our invention to provide a fluid dispenser of the above mentioned type in which the possibility of the formation of bacteria in the dispenser is minimized.

It is a further object of our invention to provide an improved device for dispensing a beverage of a ilavoring syrup and a carbonated liquid in which the proper proportion of the syrup is dispensed in such a manner that mixing of the syrup and carbonated liquid takes place externally of the dispensing device.

It is a still further object of our invention to provide an improved liquid dispenser having a transparent nozzle through which the dispensed liquids separately pass so as to facilitate inspection of the cleanliness of the nozzle and to insure the uniform high quality of successive drinks.

It is a still further object of our invention to provide an improved liquid dispenser having a I).- or

2 removable nozzle so as to facilitate the cleaning thereof.

Further objects and advantages of our invention will appear from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, and features of novelty will be pointed out with greater particularity in the appended claims.

On the drawings:

Figure 1 is a sectional side elevation of a portion of a liquid dispenser which is provided with an embodiment of our invention;

Figure 2 is a top view of the nozzle employed in the dispenser of Figure l, the nozzle having been removed from the dispensing head of the device;

Figure 3 is a sectional side elevation of the dispensing device of Figure 1 with the parts in their deenergized or non-dispensing position; and

Figure 4 is an end view looking upwardly into the dispensing head of the device of Figures l and 3, the nozzle having been removed.

Referring to Figure 1 of the drawings, we have illustrated a liquid dispenser including a tank IU. a portion of which is illustrated in Figure 1 within which is contained a suitable liquid such as the flavoring syrup. It will be understood that as is conventional in this type of beverage dispenser, a suitable casing surrounds the tank I0 and between the tank I) and the casing there is put a suitable cooling medium such as ice. For a further description of this part of a beverage dispenser, reference may be had to a copending application, Serial No. 570,828, now Patent 2,415,861, entitled Drink Dispenser, this application being filed in the names of Carl C`. Bauerlein and William F. Cramer, Jr.

Attached to the lower end of the tank I0 in a suitable bore there is provided a ring II which cooperates with a ring I2 which is threaded into an inner surface of an adapter I3 which may be supported by the outer casing of the dispenser device referred to above. With these rings II and I2 we provide a tubular member I4 which cooperates with the ring member II to provide a passageway I5.

In order to provide an arrangement for dispensing liquids such as a avoring syrup which is contained within the tank IU and a carbonated liquid, we provide a dispensing head which is indicated generally by the numeral I6. This dispensing head I6 may be of any suitable construction and in the arrangement illustrated in the drawings, it includes a sleeve member I1 and in the inner surface thereof there is carried a cupshaped member I8. The cup-shaped member I8 provides a reservoir into which a measured quantity of syrup from the tank IS may flow. The lower portion of the cup I8 is provided with a substantially horizontally disposed wall member IS and centrally disposed thereof is provided a discharge port 2i?. `In .order tocontrol the `time at which the syrup vwithin the cup member I8 passes out through the opening 23, there is provided a rod member ZI which is supported from the lower wall of a relatively heavy member 22. rlhe operation of the dispensingdevice for-open ing and closing the port 25 will be described'below.

In order to provide an arrangement :fordischarging a second liquid such as fa carbonated liquid or water through the .dispensing head If, we provide spiral passages 23 1between the outer surface of the ring-shaped member I I andithefcooperating surface of the inner bore of the sleeve .I. It-willbe understood thattheouter surfaces of the threads which form the passages.23.are relatively tightlydisposed .inside the .boreiof the sleeve member .ESI so that .thecup member .I 8 and sleeve ITI form in eiect a unitary structure. The fluid from the passages .23 is discharged from the ends of the .tubular passages .23 so :that the adjacent surfaces of the bottom .wall i901" .the.cup I8 andthe .inner surfaces .of .the tubular .shaped member -I'I .form -a second .port 2.4. fAs is conventional with this .type of constructionordispensing a beverage which includes a carbonated water, the capillary passages 23 are inthe form of a plurality of parallel passages, and as will .be illustrated more particularly in Figure 4, it will be seen that the capillary passages 23 terminate adjacent the lower endof the wall I9 in three passages marked 24a, 24h and 24e. Thus thesecond discharge port of the dispensing head I6 is, in the construction illustrated on the drawings a pluralityof ports, while the first discharge port through which the flavcring syrup is discharged is a single port 29.

In order to provide aconvenient arrangement for conducting the carbonated water .under pres- .l i sure to the upper end of the .capillary passages v123 a peripherally disposed'chamber 25 is .provided which communicates through .a passageway .26 in the ring-shapedmember I I to a valve. arrangement indicated generally by .the .numeral 121. .As

the valve arrangement 2 forms nopart of .this invention, it will only be generally .describedbe- 10W, and for a more complete descriptionof this construction, reference may behad toaJ co-pending application, Serial No. 600,540, now Patent 2,487,999.

The valve 2l includesanouter casing 2.8 which has threaded therein a second tubular -member 29. Within the tubular member .29 is a plug member 3i! and a `rod member .3 I. Therod member 3| has an axial bore 32 which communicates with the passageway 2S and a radial bore '.33 which communicates with `a chamber 36 .which may, in turn, beconnected to anysuitable source of a second fluid such as a-carbonated water which is maintained under a suitablepredetermined pressure. It will therefore be seen that when the piston memberll vis pushed tothe left in the manner shown in Figure l that the `source of carbonated liquid under pressure will force .the liquid through the various passageways .and

intothe capillary tubes 23 so'that the liquid will be discharged out through thevarious ports 24a, 24h and Zllc tangentially orina generally -eircumferential path.

It will be understood that operation of the piston member 3| to the left will also cause through hydraulic pressure the dispensing head IS including the sleeve member I? to move downwardly until the opening 2U is uncovered by the bottom surface I9 of the cup I8 moving away from therodimember 2-I. This-will cause'bothzthe first and `secondluids whichfyvheniourfdevice is employed as a beverage dispenser, includes the .'flavoring syrup and the carbonated water to be .discharged out through the irst port 20 and the Asecondport '24r respectively.

As has been mentioned above, we have found it :desirable to .provide an arrangement for disrcharging'therstand second fluids particularly when they include "a flavoring syrup and a carbonated liquidseparately and then allow them to mix externally from the dispensing device, so as to 'prevent bacterial growth which might otherwise occur if the two liquids were mixed in the .dispensing head. Furthermore it is :desirable to so discharge the carbonated 'liquidasto prevent foamingland we `shall describe below structure which-prevents this 'foamingas it minimizes vturbulence .of vthe carbonated liquid stream, delays the mixing fof 'the Icarbonated .liquid and Isyrup until .bothare at about atmospheric pressure, Vand minimizes the physical Ydisturbance of the'carbonated vliquid .to 'retain a ;high -degree of 'carbonization.

In Aorder therefore to :discharge 'the 4.lrst `and second liquids 'from the dispensing head 'sepa- `ratelyy so they will .mix youtside 4the dispensing 1delrice, we provide 4a dispensingnozzle-which is indicated generally by the .numeral A35. .This :nozzle is formed of a rstttubular member .3.6 andfa'second `concentric tubular member 137! so that the borelnsideitheftubular member' fforms a fir-st 4passage which fcommunicates with the vfirst I discharge =port 2.0, 'while .the space `between `the -rtubular members ,3.6 `and :31 provides fa .second :passage 4.which vcommunicates with the second discharge .port24 of .the dispensing'head It .will therefore be rseen that/:upon 'openingrof 'thetrst andsecondportsiZ and .24, respectively, therst fluid Ywill flow Aout through the :passageway denedbythe bore'tofetneftubnlar member 35,while the .second'uid will .pass .outgthrough the passageway vformed between `the .tubu'lar .members .-36 sand ;3:'I,-which fluidsrwill :mix externally .of Athe .dispensing nozzle and :drop into :a `suitable 'vessel such as a glass which is indicated by the :nuvmeral .38 yand which :is yplaced underneath "the nozzle 35. yIt will be .understood 1thatfor.con venience in'the'drawrngrthe glass is Aplaced close to vthenozzle butin operationlof the ydispenser the glassfmay :be :placed several :inches `from the nozzle.

In order to Iinsure .that there :will be no mixing 'of the rtwo 'liquids tby leakage 'between the rstand-.second passages of .the-nozzle, we pro- .vide 'a depending .shoulder 4or tubular extension 3.9 .on the .bottom i of ythe wall :I9 which surrounds vthe port.2 jFurthermorethe portzfisgprovided by.a.downwardly extending flange 46 which .is spaced from the concentric tubular :portion .3.9. The upperendof the cylinder .-36 isso proportioned .that it .will fit .within rthe space between .the tubular extensions `39 .and 40 as will be seen in-Figure 1.

It will, thereforabe understood that not only `are the two Aliquids dispensed through the nozzle 35 but as the first liquid 'has a V.relatively high viscositywhen our invention vis nemployed to dispense'a rilavoring -syrup -and-'a1sodue to the in- `herent nature ofthe flavoring syrup it will tend to form in a stream as is illustrated in Figure 1, spaced from the inner walls of the tubular member 36, thus minimizing the amount of deposit of syrup which will remain on the inner suri face of the tubular member 36 as a potential bacteria forming matter. Furthermore, it will be seen from an inspection of Figures l and 3 that since the inside diameter of depending flange 40 is less than the -inside diameter of the tubular member 36, even if the syrup should drip off the flange I6 the possibility of it contacting the inner surface of the tube 36 where it might be a source of bacteria forming matter is minimized. It will be understood that the ratio of the diameters of the flange 40 and tube 36 may be varied, depending on the liquid discharged, so that it will tend not to contact the inner wall of the tube.

In order to facilitate the inspection of the nozzle 35 so as to determine whether any deleterious impurities have formed therein, we may form the nozzle 35 of a suitable substantially transparent material such as a transparent plastic.

It will be understood that when the second discharge port from the dispensing head is in the form of openings 24a, 24h and 24o from spirally extending capillary passages 23, that the second liquid, or carbonated water, will be discharged in a direction which is angularly of the direction of discharge of the first liquid. In other words, the carbonated water will be discharged in a substantially whirling motion or peripherally of the flow of the flavoring syrup.

In order, therefore, to change the direction of flow of the second liquid to a downward direction without a substantially whirling motion, we provide a plurality of vanes 4|a, 4|b and 4Ic which extend from the inner surface of the tubular member 31 to the outer surface of the tubular member 36, and when the dispensing nozzle 35 is formed of a plastic material thesevanes may be molded integral with the tubular members 36 and 31. It will be understood that these vanes also form a means for integrally connecting the two tubular members of lthe discharge nozzle. Any suitable number of vanes may be employedbut we have found it particularly advantageous to employ approximately or at least the same number of vanes as there are discharge ports for the second liquid or carbonated water, and in the construction illustrated in the vdrawings, three discharge ports 24a, 24h and 24e are provided and thus three vanes 4Ia, 4Ib and 4Ic are also provided. In order to insure that the whirling action of the second liquid or carbonated water will be arrested and the liquid will be directed in a downward direction, we also provide three vanes 4Id, 4Ie and 4|,f which are placed between the'vanes 4Ia, 4Ib and 4Ic. It will also be noted that the second set of vanes 4 ld, 4I e and 4If have a shorter axial length than the rst mentioned vanes 4Ia, 4|b and 4Ic. In this manner the second passage between the tubular members 36 and 31 are broken up into a plurality of secondary passages. Thus with this construction the motion of the carbonated liquid pears that a minimum of foaming is obtained with our improved dispenser as a large proportion of the gas is retained in the water by employing a structure which minimizes turbulence so that this light liquid may almost instantly be absorbed by the heavier syrup thus preventing loss of gas or carbonation to the atmosphere.

Invorder to provide a construction which will facilitate cleaning of the dispensing nozzle, the nozzle is made removable. Thus, the nozzle construction includes an outwardly ared portion 42 having at the end thereof a'tubular portion 43 which relatively tightly fits into the cooperating seatingsurface at the outer end of the inner surface of thesleeve member I1. It will also be seen that a relatively small shoulder 44 is provided in the sleeve member I1 so as to provide a stop surface for limiting the axial or upward movement of the nozzle into the dispensing head. In order to provide a seal between the nozzle portion 43 and the member I1 so as to prevent the admission of atmospheric air entering the carbonated liquid at this particular place at the member 43, we provide any suitable sealing device 45 such as a locking flip ring. Although the nozzle itself is open to the atmosphere when a slug of carbonated water comes through the nozzle atmospheric air is not introduced into the chamber at the top portion.

Operation of the liquid dispenser may be brieiiy described as follows. When the dispensing device is not in use, the various parts will be in the position illustrated in Figure 3, and it will be seen that the dispensing head which includes the sleeve I'I will be moved upwardly from the position illustrated in Figure l. This upward movement is caused by compression spring 46 which is supported between a shoulder 41 in the outer surface of the sleeve I1 and a ring 48 which is threaded into the tubular member I4. It will also be seen that a shoulder on the lower surface of the ring member 48 provides a stop for limiting the lower path of movement of the dispensing head. As will be seen from an inspection of Figure 3, the rod 2| will be seated tightly in the cooperating surface of the first discharge port 26 and the force of the spring 46 will be communicated through the rod 2| to lift up the member 22. This will, of course, allow the fluid inside the tank I8 to ll up the cup member I8. Upon movement of the piston 3| to the left carbonated water under pressure will flow through the passage 26 and into the capillary passageways 23. Also, since the pressure of the carbonated water is greater than the force of the spring 46, the pressure of the water will act on the top surface of the sleeve I1 and force it downwardly against the stop on the inner surface of the ring 48. This will cause a peripheral surface 50 to abut against an adjacent peripheral surface 5I of the ring member and thus close off communication from the tank I0 to the cup I8. Further, downward movement of the cup-shaped member I8 will cause the wall I9 to move away from the rod 2| thus uncovering the first discharge port 20. This will cause/'all the syrup below the adjacent surfaces 50 and 5| to pass out through the first passageway inside the tubular member 36.0f the discharge nozzle. Also water will flow from the second port 24 in through the second passageway of the discharge nozzle and into the vessel 38 and after the two liquids have passed out through the dispensing device, they will mix in the cup 38. Upon removing the pressure from the piston 3 I, the water 'will be prevented from continuing to new through Athe capillary tubes 23, and the spring 43 will cause the dispensing head toretlirn to the position as is illustrated in Figure 3. For a further description of an arrangement for hydraulically operating a dispensing head in the i'xianner described above, reference may be had to the Carl C. Bauer-loin and William F. Granier, Jr. application., Serial No.A 570,828, now Patent 2,415,861.

Although we have shown particular embodiments of our invention, we do not desire to be limited to the particular embodiments described, and we intend in the appended claims to cover all modifications Which d6 not depart from the spirit and Scope of our invention.

We claii'n as our invention:

1. A device for dispensing two liquids including a dispensing head having a iirst discharge port through which one of the liquids is discharged substantially downwardly and a plurality of `spaced second ports spaced concentrically of said rst port, means including said second ports for discharging' a second liquid substantially concentrically with respect to the downwardly discharged first liquid, a nozzle adjacent said dispensing head and having a pair of spaced substantially tubular niernbers defining nrst and second passages communicating with said rst and second discharge ports respectively, and a plurality of spaced radially extending V'anes of at least as great a number as there are second ports in said second passage for changing the substantially concentric flow oi the second fluid to a substantially downward direction.

2. A device for dispensing two liquids including a dispensing head having a first discharge port through which one of the liquids is discharged substantially downwardly and a plurality of spaced second ports spaced concentrically of said first port, means including said second ports for discharging a second liquid substantially coiicentrically with respect to the downwardly discharged nrst liquid, a nozzle adjacent said dispensing head and having a pair of spaced substantially tubular members defining first and second passages communicating with said first and said second discharge ports respectively, and a plurality of spaced radially extending Vanes of at `least as great a number as there are second ports in said second passage and having at least two different axial lengths for changing the substantially concentric now of' the second fluid to a substantially downward direction.

3. A device for dispensing two liquids including a dispensing head having a substantially horizontally extending wall with a substantially centrally disposed opening through which a liquid may be discharged downwardly and a tubular wall, means including said walls denning a plurality of spaced second ports and for discharging a second liquid in a substantially whirling direction around the first discharged fluid, a nozvzle having a pair of spaced concentric tubes deining i'st and -second passages, lneahs including said second wall for supporting said nozzle adjacent said dispensing head with said first and second passages in communication with said first and second ports respectively, means including a depending ring on the lower lsurface of said rst wall and the adjacent end of one of said nozzle tubesV telescopica-hy arranged for preventing the interniiiiing of the discharged liquids in the nozzle, 'and a plllality of vaines 'extending between said nozzle tubes across said second passage and having more than one axial length for changing the substantially concentric now of the second fluid to a substantially downward direction.

4. In a device for dispensing t'Wo liquids, a nozzle having an inner portion forming a central substantially vertical passageway and an outer ring-like portion forming a separate passageway around said inner portion, a dispensing head having a first discharge port arranged to discharge a first liquid substantially downwardly into said central passageway and a plurality of spaced second ports arranged to discharge a second liquid is directed tangentially into the ring-like outer passage of said nozzle, and vertical baiiles arranged to intercept the tangential now' of said second liquid and to direct such flow downwardly and to support the inner portion of said nozzle in radially spaced relationship relative to the outer ring-like portion.

5. In a device for dispensing two liquids, a nozzle, a tubular member forming a separate vertical passageway through said nozzle, a dispensing head having a first discharge port ar'- ranged to discharge a first liquid substantially vdownWaldly into said vertical passageway and a plurality of spaced second ports comprising tubular members vdisposed in a nat spiral in said head arranged to direct a second liquid tangentially into the nozzle but along the outside of said 'tubular rnelnber, and baflies in said nozzle to support the tubular member therein, said baffles 'arranged to direct the tangential now o said second liquid downwardly, whereby said nrst and second liquids will be mixed outside said nozzle.

CARL C. BAUERLEIN. GEORGE C. MICHALSE'Ni REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the nie of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

